Austria is located in the South-East of Central Europe. The Alps are a dominating feature of the country which shares borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
With an area of 83,855 sq. km and a population of about eight million, Austria is one of Europe´s smaller states. Vienna accounts for 20% of the country´s population.
The Republic of Austria was created on November 12, 1918. By constitution, Austria is a federal parliamentary democracy divided into nine provinces (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Vienna). The head of state is the president, who is chosen by the electorate for a six year term. The National Assembly, the state´s legislative body, is elected every four by citizens over the age of 18 years. The majority ratio of the parties represented in the National Assembly is decisive for the composition of the Federal Government.
Vienna, as well as being Austria´s capital, is a federal province in its own right.
Austria is a member of the United Nations and various UN sub-organizations and has been a member of the EC since 1995. The Vienna International Center is headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
